On 29/04/2023 11:24, Ottavio Caruso wrote:
> Am 28/04/2023 um 19:25 schrieb Harry Bloomfield Esq:
>> I have a small project on, and need to order up around 40 different,
>> low cost components up - which company might be the best one to try to
>> place the order with please? It's basically a DC to DC convertor, pcb
>> o pcb sil plugs, a few transistors, 3x LED's, dual comparotor, and a
>> couple of opto isolators. All THP.
>
> Good question. After Maplin folded, I gave up.
>
>
A few I have used....

https://www.bowood-electronics.co.uk/shop/
https://www.cricklewoodelectronics.com/

on e-bay

https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/dmcomponents

and

https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/jabdogelectroniccomponents

the last one also has a web site, but ordering from them on E-Bay seems
to work better

Dave

On Saturday, 29 April 2023 at 13:23:46 UTC+1, Tim+ wrote:
> Harry Bloomfield Esq <a...@harrym1byt.plus.com> wrote:
> > I have a small project on, and need to order up around 40 different, low
> > cost components up - which company might be the best one to try to place
> > the order with please? It's basically a DC to DC convertor, pcb o pcb
> > sil plugs, a few transistors, 3x LED's, dual comparotor, and a couple of
> > opto isolators. All THP.
> >
> Surprised no one has mentioned eBay. Often handy for small quantities of
> components.
>
> Tim

A good last resort, but not recommendable due to the high level of scamming, fake parts etc etc

On Saturday, 29 April 2023 at 15:40:32 UTC+1, Adrian Caspersz wrote:
> On 29/04/2023 13:48, Joe wrote:
> >
> > OK if you needed common components in a hurry, or you were into disco
> > or remote-controlled cars. But very little range. Better than Tandy,
> > which went several years before Maplin. Tandy was, I understand, but a
> > pale shadow of Radio Shack in the US.
> >
> > I used to go in to my local Maplin once or twice a month, as they had
> > unpredictable and sometimes useful sales. Maplin used to publish a
> > magazine to which I contributed a couple of articles and a six-part
> > series. £55 a page in those days (late 1980s).
> Ah, 'Electronics - The Maplin Magazine', or 'Electronics and Music
> Maker' before...
>
> Back in the day, a friend wrote one of the regular columns - and even
> some of my photographs went in, fame at last! I think he also edited
> some of the Maplin Catalogue content.
>
> Another fellow has written a write-up of the history and the demise.
> http://www.alanwinstanley.com/alan-winstanleys-journal/2018/4/27/maplin-electronics-the-long-farewell.html
>
> I use CPC.
>
> I'd dearly like them to offer a trade counter somewhere in the south of
> the country. Hell, I'd even offer to run one? It would be a branch built
> and operated exactly like ScrewFix/ToolStation but with electronic bits.
>
> But then again, Amazon prime also delivers, and my scrap circuit boards
> still yield parts (mostly Caps) for 'emergencies'. Just bought an ESR
> tester and can now repair trivially failed things super quick with my
> salvage...
> >
> > In my youth, there were still surplus shops, a couple in Lisle Street
> > in central London, and a few on the Edgware Road in Paddington
> > including, confusingly, two different Smith's.
>
> There were still one or
> > two in Tottenham Court Road, but they quickly moved into hi-fi. I do
> > remember buying an AVO 8 movement for £2.95 somewhere in TCR to repair a
> > faulty instrument I got for nothing.
> In the eighties, me and friends used to do a 'mecca' trip from Hatfield
> (our college) to Central London to regularly visit - Edgware Road, TCR
> and Notting Hill 'HiFi and Video Exchange' - all in the pursuit of
> electronic 'junk', great days...
> > My nearest shop was Direct Components, later Direct Electronics, in
> > Manor Park in east London, and Wireless World and Practical Wireless
> > advertised many small mail-order companies.
> Out of London but Display Electronics was an interesting supplier of
> surplus as well. I even had a short job working there, changing CRTs and
> converting something called a 'Telebox' :)
>
> And there was the electronics hobbyist exhibition 'Breadboard' that
> Maplin used to major at (Royal Horticultural halls in London), this was
> a bit different than the amateur radio rallies that I later moved on to.
> Anyone remember Breadboard?

A lousy idea that was - once you built something it then had to be pulled apart.
I also remember S-DEC.

On Sat, 29 Apr 2023 13:21:07 -0700 (PDT)
Animal <tabbypurr@gmail.com> wrote:

>
> A lousy idea that was - once you built something it then had to be
> pulled apart. I also remember S-DEC.

I didn't have one of those, I had a later T-Dec. Still have it, in
fact, though the same kind of thing is now very cheap in comparison,
and I have a few larger ones.

Microcontroller manufacturers often produce 'demo' PCBs at reasonable
prices. I have several Microchip boards, mostly TQFP44, that I use for
surface-mount breadboarding. Though it is possible to split Veroboard
tracks and use SOIC chips that way. Just tedious.

--
Joe

On 29/04/2023 19:03, alan_m wrote:
> On 29/04/2023 13:23, Tim+ wrote:
>> Harry Bloomfield Esq <a@harrym1byt.plus.com> wrote:
>>> I have a small project on, and need to order up around 40 different, low
>>> cost components up - which company might be the best one to try to place
>>> the order with please? It's basically a DC to DC convertor, pcb o pcb
>>> sil plugs, a few transistors, 3x LED's, dual comparotor, and a couple of
>>> opto isolators. All THP.
>>>
>>
>> Surprised no one has mentioned eBay.  Often handy for small quantities of
>> components.
>
> and often dodgy fake capacitors etc.
>
Not arf as dodgy as China...
The transistors I bought from there would have made even Clive Sinclair
blush.
They all blew within minutes of switch on.

--
To ban Christmas, simply give turkeys the vote.

On 29/04/2023 19:30, Brian wrote:
> Harry Bloomfield Esq <a@harrym1byt.plus.com> wrote:
>> I have a small project on, and need to order up around 40 different, low
>> cost components up - which company might be the best one to try to place
>> the order with please? It's basically a DC to DC convertor, pcb o pcb
>> sil plugs, a few transistors, 3x LED's, dual comparotor, and a couple of
>> opto isolators. All THP.
>>
>
> I tend to use EBay and hunt out places with free P&P.
>
>
>
I have had pretty good experience with ebay. And some of the other
firms, but they all charge massive handling fees.

--
To ban Christmas, simply give turkeys the vote.

Robert <robert@invalid.invalid> wrote:
> My RS account seems still live even though I havent used it for several
> years.

RS are much 'friendlier' than they used to be in accepting anyone as a
customer and having reasonable delivery costs for small quantities.
I've been surprised recently to find thay are cheaper for some things
than the rest (i.e. CPC/Farnell, Rapid, etc.).

--
Chris Green
·

On 29/04/2023 21:12, Animal wrote:
> On Saturday, 29 April 2023 at 13:23:46 UTC+1, Tim+ wrote:
>> Harry Bloomfield Esq <a...@harrym1byt.plus.com> wrote:
>>> I have a small project on, and need to order up around 40 different, low
>>> cost components up - which company might be the best one to try to place
>>> the order with please? It's basically a DC to DC convertor, pcb o pcb
>>> sil plugs, a few transistors, 3x LED's, dual comparotor, and a couple of
>>> opto isolators. All THP.
>>>
>> Surprised no one has mentioned eBay. Often handy for small quantities of
>> components.
>>
>> Tim
>
> A good last resort, but not recommendable due to the high level of scamming, fake parts etc etc

I would say several reputable suppliers have E-Bay shops. In the past I
have order from JabDog on both their web site and E-Bay shop.
The web site is often out of date and delivery times interesting.
On E-Bay the shop is always up-to-date and delivery times realistic.
I assume this is because will reduce their vendor reputation if things
don't work smoothly.....

Dave

On 2023-04-29, Joe <joe@jretrading.com> wrote:
> On Sat, 29 Apr 2023 19:08:29 +0100
> Fredxx <fredxx@spam.uk> wrote:
>
>> On 29/04/2023 19:04, Robert wrote:
>> > On 28/04/2023 20:38, Fredxx wrote:
>> >> On 28/04/2023 20:25, Harry Bloomfield Esq wrote:
>> >>> I have a small project on, and need to order up around 40
>> >>> different, low cost components up - which company might be the
>> >>> best one to try to place the order with please? It's basically a
>> >>> DC to DC convertor, pcb o pcb sil plugs, a few transistors, 3x
>> >>> LED's, dual comparotor, and a couple of opto isolators. All THP.
>> >>
>> >> The usual suspects are Farnell and RS Online but I think they only
>> >> deliver to account holders although that may have changed
>> >> following their introduction of delivery charges. DigiKey and
>> >> Mouser are US based but are very economic if your order is over
>> >> £40.
>> >>
>> >> If you just wanted one item I might have suggested eBay or Amazon,
>> >> but you're looking for a one-stop shop.
>> >>
>> >> This website lists sourcing of components for hobbyists:
>> >>    https://www.build-electronic-circuits.com/buy-electronic-components/
>> >>
>> >>
>> > My RS account seems still live even though I havent used it for
>> > several years.
>>
>> I only use mine one a year or so. Most old catalogue companies now
>> charge delivery for small orders so the advantages of an account are
>> much less than they used to be.
>
> Farnell is currently charging £2 + VAT for small orders, which I think
> is cheaper than CPC, while CPC parts (from its much smaller range) are
> usually cheaper.
>
> Farnell and RS deliver next day, apart from weekends. Most companies
> charge quite a lot more for next-day.
>

I generally use Farnell for most parts, though for non-account customers the
delivery proces are a bit steep:

£40 and above (Exc. VAT) - Online orders FREE
£0.01 - £19.99 (Exc. VAT) - Online orders £9.95
£20 - £39.99 (Exc. VAT) - Online orders £5.95

(The £2 delivery for small orders is only for account customers)

I fell out with RS as a student, thanks to the snotty attitide of their
sales rep. Didn't think students were worth talking to, and absolutely
refused to let us have a catalogue. Around the same time Farnell happily
set me up with a trade account and sent regular catalogues for many years.
Should have known students grow up (sometimes!). Haven't knowingly put
a single penny in RS's pocket since then. Farnel has had many K's of
personal business, plus a significantly larger amount via company
orders...

--
Ian

"Tamahome!!!" - "Miaka!!!"

On 30/04/2023 13:12, Ian wrote:
> On 2023-04-29, Joe <joe@jretrading.com> wrote:
>> On Sat, 29 Apr 2023 19:08:29 +0100
>> Fredxx <fredxx@spam.uk> wrote:
>>
>>> On 29/04/2023 19:04, Robert wrote:
>>>> On 28/04/2023 20:38, Fredxx wrote:
>>>>> On 28/04/2023 20:25, Harry Bloomfield Esq wrote:
>>>>>> I have a small project on, and need to order up around 40
>>>>>> different, low cost components up - which company might be the
>>>>>> best one to try to place the order with please? It's basically a
>>>>>> DC to DC convertor, pcb o pcb sil plugs, a few transistors, 3x
>>>>>> LED's, dual comparotor, and a couple of opto isolators. All THP.
>>>>>
>>>>> The usual suspects are Farnell and RS Online but I think they only
>>>>> deliver to account holders although that may have changed
>>>>> following their introduction of delivery charges. DigiKey and
>>>>> Mouser are US based but are very economic if your order is over
>>>>> £40.
>>>>>
>>>>> If you just wanted one item I might have suggested eBay or Amazon,
>>>>> but you're looking for a one-stop shop.
>>>>>
>>>>> This website lists sourcing of components for hobbyists:
>>>>>    https://www.build-electronic-circuits.com/buy-electronic-components/
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> My RS account seems still live even though I havent used it for
>>>> several years.
>>>
>>> I only use mine one a year or so. Most old catalogue companies now
>>> charge delivery for small orders so the advantages of an account are
>>> much less than they used to be.
>>
>> Farnell is currently charging £2 + VAT for small orders, which I think
>> is cheaper than CPC, while CPC parts (from its much smaller range) are
>> usually cheaper.
>>
>> Farnell and RS deliver next day, apart from weekends. Most companies
>> charge quite a lot more for next-day.
>>
>
> I generally use Farnell for most parts, though for non-account customers the
> delivery proces are a bit steep:
>
> £40 and above (Exc. VAT) - Online orders FREE
> £0.01 - £19.99 (Exc. VAT) - Online orders £9.95
> £20 - £39.99 (Exc. VAT) - Online orders £5.95
>
> (The £2 delivery for small orders is only for account customers)

Interesting, I have a long standing company account and I'm being
charged the non-account customer delivery charges.

> I fell out with RS as a student, thanks to the snotty attitide of their
> sales rep. Didn't think students were worth talking to, and absolutely
> refused to let us have a catalogue. Around the same time Farnell happily
> set me up with a trade account and sent regular catalogues for many years.
> Should have known students grow up (sometimes!). Haven't knowingly put
> a single penny in RS's pocket since then. Farnel has had many K's of
> personal business, plus a significantly larger amount via company
> orders...

Funny, once I setup a company I had no problem with RS. They also have a
Direct Debit facility to pay off your monthly account. Farnell have been
promising the same feature for 20 years or so but it's never come into
fruition.

My issue with Farnell was I had a small amount owing of £4 and they
stopped the account without telling me. I ordered components and they
never came, I even got an email they being sorted and packed. But no
notification of a hold or they wouldn't be sent.

So I was a well and truly pissed off customer. That was a long time ago.

On 30/04/2023 13:55, Fredxx wrote:
> On 30/04/2023 13:12, Ian wrote:
>> On 2023-04-29, Joe <joe@jretrading.com> wrote:
>>> On Sat, 29 Apr 2023 19:08:29 +0100
>>> Fredxx <fredxx@spam.uk> wrote:
>>>
>>>> On 29/04/2023 19:04, Robert wrote:
>>>>> On 28/04/2023 20:38, Fredxx wrote:
>>>>>> On 28/04/2023 20:25, Harry Bloomfield Esq wrote:
>>>>>>> I have a small project on, and need to order up around 40
>>>>>>> different, low cost components up - which company might be the
>>>>>>> best one to try to place the order with please? It's basically a
>>>>>>> DC to DC convertor, pcb o pcb sil plugs, a few transistors, 3x
>>>>>>> LED's, dual comparotor, and a couple of opto isolators. All THP.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The usual suspects are Farnell and RS Online but I think they only
>>>>>> deliver to account holders although that may have changed
>>>>>> following their introduction of delivery charges. DigiKey and
>>>>>> Mouser are US based but are very economic if your order is over
>>>>>> £40.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> If you just wanted one item I might have suggested eBay or Amazon,
>>>>>> but you're looking for a one-stop shop.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> This website lists sourcing of components for hobbyists:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> https://www.build-electronic-circuits.com/buy-electronic-components/
>>>>>>
>>>>> My RS account seems still live even though I havent used it for
>>>>> several years.
>>>>
>>>> I only use mine one a year or so. Most old catalogue companies now
>>>> charge delivery for small orders so the advantages of an account are
>>>> much less than they used to be.
>>>
>>> Farnell is currently charging £2 + VAT for small orders, which I think
>>> is cheaper than CPC, while CPC parts (from its much smaller range) are
>>> usually cheaper.
>>>
>>> Farnell and RS deliver next day, apart from weekends. Most companies
>>> charge quite a lot more for next-day.
>>>
>>
>> I generally use Farnell for most parts, though for non-account
>> customers the
>> delivery proces are a bit steep:
>>
>> £40 and above (Exc. VAT) - Online orders    FREE
>> £0.01 - £19.99 (Exc. VAT) - Online orders   £9.95
>> £20 - £39.99 (Exc. VAT) - Online orders     £5.95
>>
>> (The £2 delivery for small orders is only for account customers)
>
> Interesting, I have a long standing company account and I'm being
> charged the non-account customer delivery charges.

I take that back. I wasn't logged in. There is a £2 fee, that is
referred to as s handling charge.

David Wade <g4ugm@dave.invalid> wrote:
> On 29/04/2023 21:12, Animal wrote:
>> On Saturday, 29 April 2023 at 13:23:46 UTC+1, Tim+ wrote:
>>> Harry Bloomfield Esq <a...@harrym1byt.plus.com> wrote:
>>>> I have a small project on, and need to order up around 40 different, low
>>>> cost components up - which company might be the best one to try to place
>>>> the order with please? It's basically a DC to DC convertor, pcb o pcb
>>>> sil plugs, a few transistors, 3x LED's, dual comparotor, and a couple of
>>>> opto isolators. All THP.
>>>>
>>> Surprised no one has mentioned eBay. Often handy for small quantities of
>>> components.
>>>
>>> Tim
>>
>> A good last resort, but not recommendable due to the high level of
>> scamming, fake parts etc etc
>
> I would say several reputable suppliers have E-Bay shops. In the past I
> have order from JabDog on both their web site and E-Bay shop.
> The web site is often out of date and delivery times interesting.
> On E-Bay the shop is always up-to-date and delivery times realistic.
> I assume this is because will reduce their vendor reputation if things
> don't work smoothly.....
>
> Dave
>

I’ve not had issues with ordering components off EBay.

The odd error - eg 5.5 x 2.1 sockets sent rather than 5.5x 2.5 but the
seller simply sent the correct ones and told me to keep the others.

On Sunday, 30 April 2023 at 13:12:53 UTC+1, Ian wrote:

> I fell out with RS as a student, thanks to the snotty attitide of their
> sales rep. Didn't think students were worth talking to, and absolutely
> refused to let us have a catalogue. Around the same time Farnell happily
> set me up with a trade account and sent regular catalogues for many years.
> Should have known students grow up (sometimes!). Haven't knowingly put
> a single penny in RS's pocket since then. Farnel has had many K's of
> personal business, plus a significantly larger amount via company
> orders...

I've never found RS prices to make sense. Their only strength has been more extensive specs.

On Monday, 1 May 2023 at 08:47:32 UTC+1, Brian wrote:
> David Wade <g4...@dave.invalid> wrote:
> > On 29/04/2023 21:12, Animal wrote:
> >> On Saturday, 29 April 2023 at 13:23:46 UTC+1, Tim+ wrote:
> >>> Harry Bloomfield Esq <a...@harrym1byt.plus.com> wrote:
> >>>> I have a small project on, and need to order up around 40 different, low
> >>>> cost components up - which company might be the best one to try to place
> >>>> the order with please? It's basically a DC to DC convertor, pcb o pcb
> >>>> sil plugs, a few transistors, 3x LED's, dual comparotor, and a couple of
> >>>> opto isolators. All THP.
> >>>>
> >>> Surprised no one has mentioned eBay. Often handy for small quantities of
> >>> components.
> >>>
> >>> Tim
> >>
> >> A good last resort, but not recommendable due to the high level of
> >> scamming, fake parts etc etc
> >
> > I would say several reputable suppliers have E-Bay shops. In the past I
> > have order from JabDog on both their web site and E-Bay shop.
> > The web site is often out of date and delivery times interesting.
> > On E-Bay the shop is always up-to-date and delivery times realistic.
> > I assume this is because will reduce their vendor reputation if things
> > don't work smoothly.....
> >
> > Dave
> >
> I’ve not had issues with ordering components off EBay.
>
> The odd error - eg 5.5 x 2.1 sockets sent rather than 5.5x 2.5 but the
> seller simply sent the correct ones and told me to keep the others.

IMLE with ebay electronic bits, if you're willing to accept binning a %age of stuff and the resulting delays & need to test, then they're as cheap as it gets, unless of course you buy direct from china. But by the time someone has the skills to test everything, we don't want to.

On 01/05/2023 23:23, Animal wrote:
> On Sunday, 30 April 2023 at 13:12:53 UTC+1, Ian wrote:
>
>> I fell out with RS as a student, thanks to the snotty attitide of their
>> sales rep. Didn't think students were worth talking to, and absolutely
>> refused to let us have a catalogue. Around the same time Farnell happily
>> set me up with a trade account and sent regular catalogues for many years.
>> Should have known students grow up (sometimes!). Haven't knowingly put
>> a single penny in RS's pocket since then. Farnel has had many K's of
>> personal business, plus a significantly larger amount via company
>> orders...
>
> I've never found RS prices to make sense. Their only strength has been more extensive specs.

Radio Spares, now rebranded as RS, was always expensive but for
development work next day morning delivery was the bonus. You cannot
have design engineers just sitting on their arses doing nothing waiting
for parts to turn up.

In the past the RS catalogues detailed the fairly large discounts they
would give if the total spend by a company over a fixed period of time
was in the tens or hundreds of thousand pounds.

With the company I worked for, the job got charged the price in the RS
catalogue and the holding company head office kept the discount money.

At one time became known a Reject Spares. They over "painted" their own
catalogue numbers on top of the manufacturers numbers. The paint could
be removed to find that the 10 off IC you had ordered were from a
variety of manufactures and with different speed ratings etc.

--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

On 02/05/2023 06:04, alan_m wrote:
> On 01/05/2023 23:23, Animal wrote:
>> On Sunday, 30 April 2023 at 13:12:53 UTC+1, Ian wrote:
>>
>>> I fell out with RS as a student, thanks to the snotty attitide of their
>>> sales rep. Didn't think students were worth talking to, and absolutely
>>> refused to let us have a catalogue. Around the same time Farnell happily
>>> set me up with a trade account and sent regular catalogues for many
>>> years.
>>> Should have known students grow up (sometimes!). Haven't knowingly put
>>> a single penny in RS's pocket since then. Farnel has had many K's of
>>> personal business, plus a significantly larger amount via company
>>> orders...
>>
>> I've never found RS prices to make sense. Their only strength has been
>> more extensive specs.
>
> Radio Spares, now rebranded as RS, was always expensive but for
> development work next day morning delivery was the bonus. You cannot
> have design engineers just sitting on their arses doing nothing waiting
> for parts to turn up.

Next day? I once had them deliver a timer relay to me, 50 or 60 miles
away, in 90 minutes! They used a motorcycle courier and delivery did
cost three or four times the cost of the timer, but it allowed me to
install the relay while I was on site, so that they could restart the
production line, knowing that the fault would not keep randomly recurring.

On Saturday, 29 April 2023 at 21:21:10 UTC+1, Animal wrote:
> On Saturday, 29 April 2023 at 15:40:32 UTC+1, Adrian Caspersz wrote:
> > On 29/04/2023 13:48, Joe wrote:
> > >
> > > OK if you needed common components in a hurry, or you were into disco
> > > or remote-controlled cars. But very little range. Better than Tandy,
> > > which went several years before Maplin. Tandy was, I understand, but a
> > > pale shadow of Radio Shack in the US.
> > >
> > > I used to go in to my local Maplin once or twice a month, as they had
> > > unpredictable and sometimes useful sales. Maplin used to publish a
> > > magazine to which I contributed a couple of articles and a six-part
> > > series. £55 a page in those days (late 1980s).
> > Ah, 'Electronics - The Maplin Magazine', or 'Electronics and Music
> > Maker' before...
> >
> > Back in the day, a friend wrote one of the regular columns - and even
> > some of my photographs went in, fame at last! I think he also edited
> > some of the Maplin Catalogue content.
> >
> > Another fellow has written a write-up of the history and the demise.
> > http://www.alanwinstanley.com/alan-winstanleys-journal/2018/4/27/maplin-electronics-the-long-farewell.html
> >
> > I use CPC.
> >
> > I'd dearly like them to offer a trade counter somewhere in the south of
> > the country. Hell, I'd even offer to run one? It would be a branch built
> > and operated exactly like ScrewFix/ToolStation but with electronic bits..
> >
> > But then again, Amazon prime also delivers, and my scrap circuit boards
> > still yield parts (mostly Caps) for 'emergencies'. Just bought an ESR
> > tester and can now repair trivially failed things super quick with my
> > salvage...
> > >
> > > In my youth, there were still surplus shops, a couple in Lisle Street
> > > in central London, and a few on the Edgware Road in Paddington
> > > including, confusingly, two different Smith's.
> >
> > There were still one or
> > > two in Tottenham Court Road, but they quickly moved into hi-fi. I do
> > > remember buying an AVO 8 movement for £2.95 somewhere in TCR to repair a
> > > faulty instrument I got for nothing.
> > In the eighties, me and friends used to do a 'mecca' trip from Hatfield
> > (our college) to Central London to regularly visit - Edgware Road, TCR
> > and Notting Hill 'HiFi and Video Exchange' - all in the pursuit of
> > electronic 'junk', great days...
> > > My nearest shop was Direct Components, later Direct Electronics, in
> > > Manor Park in east London, and Wireless World and Practical Wireless
> > > advertised many small mail-order companies.
> > Out of London but Display Electronics was an interesting supplier of
> > surplus as well. I even had a short job working there, changing CRTs and
> > converting something called a 'Telebox' :)
> >
> > And there was the electronics hobbyist exhibition 'Breadboard' that
> > Maplin used to major at (Royal Horticultural halls in London), this was
> > a bit different than the amateur radio rallies that I later moved on to..
> > Anyone remember Breadboard?

yes still going strong although we try to call it protoboard nowerdays.

> A lousy idea that was - once you built something it then had to be pulled apart.

Fine why do you need to keep every circut you make ?
Very wasteful as a hobby point of view.

> I also remember S-DEC.

I have a uDec (well mu-Dec)

On Friday, 28 April 2023 at 20:25:43 UTC+1, Harry Bloomfield Esq wrote:
> I have a small project on, and need to order up around 40 different, low
> cost components up - which company might be the best one to try to place
> the order with please? It's basically a DC to DC convertor, pcb o pcb
> sil plugs, a few transistors, 3x LED's, dual comparotor, and a couple of
> opto isolators. All THP.

I'd check out rapid electronics.

https://www.rapidonline.com/

In article <ecb62c56-1a50-4a79-bce2-8b6273feae21n@googlegroups.com>,
John J <johnjessop46@gmail.com> scribeth thus
>On Friday, 28 April 2023 at 20:25:43 UTC+1, Harry Bloomfield Esq wrote:
>> I have a small project on, and need to order up around 40 different, low
>> cost components up - which company might be the best one to try to place
>> the order with please? It's basically a DC to DC convertor, pcb o pcb
>> sil plugs, a few transistors, 3x LED's, dual comparotor, and a couple of
>> opto isolators. All THP.
>I recently noticed a supplier in Hull https://www.switchelectronics.co.uk/
>I haven't as yet tried them but it might be an option for you.

Is old Birkets of the straight in Lincoln still around?...

--
Tony Sayer

Man is least himself when he talks in his own person.

Give him a keyboard, and he will reveal himself.

tony sayer wrote:

> Is old Birkets of the straight in Lincoln still around?...

John isn't

<https://funeral-notices.co.uk/notice/birkett/5038841>

No idea what effect that has on the shop ...

And this is the sorry remains of H Gee in Mill road Cambridge were over
time i spent a fortune in pocket money!

After their fire almost every cassette recorder belt went up in flames
very sad:(..

https://goo.gl/maps/1LgCKrXdf3oboNFPA

--
Tony Sayer

Man is least himself when he talks in his own person.

Give him a keyboard, and he will reveal himself.

On Tuesday, 2 May 2023 at 16:02:55 UTC+1, whisky-dave wrote:
> On Saturday, 29 April 2023 at 21:21:10 UTC+1, Animal wrote:
> > On Saturday, 29 April 2023 at 15:40:32 UTC+1, Adrian Caspersz wrote:
> > > On 29/04/2023 13:48, Joe wrote:
> > > >
> > > > OK if you needed common components in a hurry, or you were into disco
> > > > or remote-controlled cars. But very little range. Better than Tandy,
> > > > which went several years before Maplin. Tandy was, I understand, but a
> > > > pale shadow of Radio Shack in the US.
> > > >
> > > > I used to go in to my local Maplin once or twice a month, as they had
> > > > unpredictable and sometimes useful sales. Maplin used to publish a
> > > > magazine to which I contributed a couple of articles and a six-part
> > > > series. £55 a page in those days (late 1980s).
> > > Ah, 'Electronics - The Maplin Magazine', or 'Electronics and Music
> > > Maker' before...
> > >
> > > Back in the day, a friend wrote one of the regular columns - and even
> > > some of my photographs went in, fame at last! I think he also edited
> > > some of the Maplin Catalogue content.
> > >
> > > Another fellow has written a write-up of the history and the demise.
> > > http://www.alanwinstanley.com/alan-winstanleys-journal/2018/4/27/maplin-electronics-the-long-farewell.html
> > >
> > > I use CPC.
> > >
> > > I'd dearly like them to offer a trade counter somewhere in the south of
> > > the country. Hell, I'd even offer to run one? It would be a branch built
> > > and operated exactly like ScrewFix/ToolStation but with electronic bits.
> > >
> > > But then again, Amazon prime also delivers, and my scrap circuit boards
> > > still yield parts (mostly Caps) for 'emergencies'. Just bought an ESR
> > > tester and can now repair trivially failed things super quick with my
> > > salvage...
> > > >
> > > > In my youth, there were still surplus shops, a couple in Lisle Street
> > > > in central London, and a few on the Edgware Road in Paddington
> > > > including, confusingly, two different Smith's.
> > >
> > > There were still one or
> > > > two in Tottenham Court Road, but they quickly moved into hi-fi. I do
> > > > remember buying an AVO 8 movement for £2.95 somewhere in TCR to repair a
> > > > faulty instrument I got for nothing.
> > > In the eighties, me and friends used to do a 'mecca' trip from Hatfield
> > > (our college) to Central London to regularly visit - Edgware Road, TCR
> > > and Notting Hill 'HiFi and Video Exchange' - all in the pursuit of
> > > electronic 'junk', great days...
> > > > My nearest shop was Direct Components, later Direct Electronics, in
> > > > Manor Park in east London, and Wireless World and Practical Wireless
> > > > advertised many small mail-order companies.
> > > Out of London but Display Electronics was an interesting supplier of
> > > surplus as well. I even had a short job working there, changing CRTs and
> > > converting something called a 'Telebox' :)
> > >
> > > And there was the electronics hobbyist exhibition 'Breadboard' that
> > > Maplin used to major at (Royal Horticultural halls in London), this was
> > > a bit different than the amateur radio rallies that I later moved on to.
> > > Anyone remember Breadboard?
> yes still going strong although we try to call it protoboard nowerdays.
> > A lousy idea that was - once you built something it then had to be pulled apart.
> Fine why do you need to keep every circut you make ?

I don't. Some would have been better to keep. So I moved away from those breadboards.
Anyone remember 1st generation breadboards? :)

> Very wasteful as a hobby point of view.
>
> > I also remember S-DEC.
>
> I have a uDec (well mu-Dec)

On 03/05/2023 11:18, Andy Burns wrote:
> tony sayer wrote:
>
>> Is old Birkets of the straight in Lincoln still around?...
>
> John isn't
>
> <https://funeral-notices.co.uk/notice/birkett/5038841>
>
> No idea what effect that has on the shop ...
>
.... his daughters are still trading, but not sure of opening times...

On 03/05/2023 23:56, Animal wrote:
> On Tuesday, 2 May 2023 at 16:02:55 UTC+1, whisky-dave wrote:
>> On Saturday, 29 April 2023 at 21:21:10 UTC+1, Animal wrote:
>>> On Saturday, 29 April 2023 at 15:40:32 UTC+1, Adrian Caspersz wrote:

>>>> And there was the electronics hobbyist exhibition 'Breadboard' that
>>>> Maplin used to major at (Royal Horticultural halls in London), this was
>>>> a bit different than the amateur radio rallies that I later moved on to.
>>>> Anyone remember Breadboard?
>> yes still going strong although we try to call it protoboard nowerdays.
>>> A lousy idea that was - once you built something it then had to be pulled apart.
>> Fine why do you need to keep every circut you make ?
>
> I don't. Some would have been better to keep. So I moved away from those breadboards.
> Anyone remember 1st generation breadboards? :)

Do you mean an actual breadboard with things screwed to it?

--
Max Demian

On Wednesday, 3 May 2023 at 23:56:15 UTC+1, Animal wrote:
> On Tuesday, 2 May 2023 at 16:02:55 UTC+1, whisky-dave wrote:
> > On Saturday, 29 April 2023 at 21:21:10 UTC+1, Animal wrote:
> > > On Saturday, 29 April 2023 at 15:40:32 UTC+1, Adrian Caspersz wrote:
> > > > On 29/04/2023 13:48, Joe wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > OK if you needed common components in a hurry, or you were into disco
> > > > > or remote-controlled cars. But very little range. Better than Tandy,
> > > > > which went several years before Maplin. Tandy was, I understand, but a
> > > > > pale shadow of Radio Shack in the US.
> > > > >
> > > > > I used to go in to my local Maplin once or twice a month, as they had
> > > > > unpredictable and sometimes useful sales. Maplin used to publish a
> > > > > magazine to which I contributed a couple of articles and a six-part
> > > > > series. £55 a page in those days (late 1980s).
> > > > Ah, 'Electronics - The Maplin Magazine', or 'Electronics and Music
> > > > Maker' before...
> > > >
> > > > Back in the day, a friend wrote one of the regular columns - and even
> > > > some of my photographs went in, fame at last! I think he also edited
> > > > some of the Maplin Catalogue content.
> > > >
> > > > Another fellow has written a write-up of the history and the demise..
> > > > http://www.alanwinstanley.com/alan-winstanleys-journal/2018/4/27/maplin-electronics-the-long-farewell.html
> > > >
> > > > I use CPC.
> > > >
> > > > I'd dearly like them to offer a trade counter somewhere in the south of
> > > > the country. Hell, I'd even offer to run one? It would be a branch built
> > > > and operated exactly like ScrewFix/ToolStation but with electronic bits.
> > > >
> > > > But then again, Amazon prime also delivers, and my scrap circuit boards
> > > > still yield parts (mostly Caps) for 'emergencies'. Just bought an ESR
> > > > tester and can now repair trivially failed things super quick with my
> > > > salvage...
> > > > >
> > > > > In my youth, there were still surplus shops, a couple in Lisle Street
> > > > > in central London, and a few on the Edgware Road in Paddington
> > > > > including, confusingly, two different Smith's.
> > > >
> > > > There were still one or
> > > > > two in Tottenham Court Road, but they quickly moved into hi-fi. I do
> > > > > remember buying an AVO 8 movement for £2.95 somewhere in TCR to repair a
> > > > > faulty instrument I got for nothing.
> > > > In the eighties, me and friends used to do a 'mecca' trip from Hatfield
> > > > (our college) to Central London to regularly visit - Edgware Road, TCR
> > > > and Notting Hill 'HiFi and Video Exchange' - all in the pursuit of
> > > > electronic 'junk', great days...
> > > > > My nearest shop was Direct Components, later Direct Electronics, in
> > > > > Manor Park in east London, and Wireless World and Practical Wireless
> > > > > advertised many small mail-order companies.
> > > > Out of London but Display Electronics was an interesting supplier of
> > > > surplus as well. I even had a short job working there, changing CRTs and
> > > > converting something called a 'Telebox' :)
> > > >
> > > > And there was the electronics hobbyist exhibition 'Breadboard' that
> > > > Maplin used to major at (Royal Horticultural halls in London), this was
> > > > a bit different than the amateur radio rallies that I later moved on to.
> > > > Anyone remember Breadboard?
> > yes still going strong although we try to call it protoboard nowerdays.
> > > A lousy idea that was - once you built something it then had to be pulled apart.
> > Fine why do you need to keep every circut you make ?
> I don't.

Well that's where prototype boards come in handy, and of couse for making prototypes

> Some would have been better to keep. So I moved away from those breadboards.

For me breadboards are wooden where you push in a tack/drawing pin or other 'node' then solder your components to it.
So I try to stick to the usage of the word protoboard for describing such things.

> Anyone remember 1st generation breadboards? :)

Not really although the first breadboard I used at school was a very light material that you stuck brass drawing pins
into then soldered the comonents to them. OK for teaching the basics as were the 1st proto-board I used which was an S-Dec.
Can't remember why the were called S-decs though.

> > Very wasteful as a hobby point of view.
> >
> > > I also remember S-DEC.
> >
> > I have a uDec (well mu-Dec)